Skip to main content

Nasal Spray COVID Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Trial

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 11, 2023 -- New research points to the potential of a COVID-19 vaccine delivered through the nose.

The phase 1 clinical trial showed that the product, administered nasally in two doses, delivered a significant immune response to multiple COVID variants.

Called CoviLiv, the vaccine was tested as a primary vaccination series on healthy adults before development of the mRNA vaccines that are now approved to treat COVID.

Instead, CoviLiv is a live-attenuated vaccine, meaning it is made from weakened virus. Genetic material of the virus was recoded to convert it from a disease-causing pathogen into a stable and safe vaccine, according to its developer, Codagenix Inc.

Participants who received the vaccine during the trial had robust immune responses, according to a company news release about the study. They also had T-cell reactivity that was seen to be specific for multiple viral antigens beyond the frequently mutating coronavirus spike protein.

The idea was to produce an immune response to the entire virus rather than the frequently mutating spike protein. This could potentially provide broader protection against variants, the researchers said.

None of the current COVID vaccines are live-attenuated or delivered nasally.

The findings are to be presented Wednesday at IDWeek 2023, the joint annual meeting of several organizations, including the Infectious Disease Society of America, in Boston.

“The study findings provide a glimpse into what could be the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines that provide differentiated protection to more people,” said lead study author Johanna Kaufmann, executive vice president for oncology and immunology at Codagenix Inc.

“Vaccine administration by nose and easier storage can increase access to vaccinations for underserved areas across the world," she said in a meeting news release.

CoviLiv does not require cold chain storage, which would make it easier to stockpile in areas that don’t have enough refrigeration. Having an alternative to COVID shots may also increase uptake in areas with lower vaccination rates, according to the study.

Findings presented at medical meetings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Sources

  • IDWeek 2023, news release, Oct. 11, 2023

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Vaccines Will Be Best Defense Against Bird Flu, Experts Say

WEDNESDAY, May 29, 2024 -- Humanity’s best protection against bird flu will be the development of effective vaccines, a new study says. The H5N1 avian flu has been raging...

Nations Fail to Agree on Treaty on Preventing Next Pandemic

TUESDAY, May 24, 2024 -- Following two years of tough negotiations, efforts to craft a global treaty to help countries fight future pandemics have failed, the World Health...

Scientists Developing mRNA-Based Vaccine Against H5N1 Bird Flu

TUESDAY, May 28, 2024 -- An experimental mRNA vaccine against the H5N1 avian flu is highly effective in preventing severe illness and death in lab animals, researchers...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.